Solenoid valve 2 inch ac24v

In irrigation automation systems, this type of valve is often underestimated - many people think that the main thing is to maintain the diameter and voltage, and the rest is trivial. But in practice, even such a seemingly standard node assolenoid valve 2 inch ac24vmay present surprises if you do not take into account the specifics of installation and operation.

Design Features of 2" Solenoid Valves

While working with equipment from Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC, I noticed an important nuance: in their 2-inch models, the coil often overheats during prolonged operation under load. This is not a defect, but a feature - the manufacturer uses a winding with a current reserve, but in hot climates it is better to install additional cooling.

The body is usually brass or stainless steel, but the seals are a different story. Last season, at one of the facilities near Ufa, they encountered the fact that standard EPDM gaskets could not withstand contact with fertilizers. We had to urgently change to fluorine rubber, although the project did not initially provide for this.

The membrane is the weak point of any solenoid valves. In 2-inch versions, its thickness must be at least 3 mm, otherwise it will tear at the edges during water hammer. Chinese analogues often skimp on this, but Shandong Lingyao maintains a balance in this regard - the membrane is quite elastic, but not a rubber cushion.

24V AC power supply problems

24 volts AC is considered safe, but paradoxical situations arise in the field. For example, with a cable length of more than 50 meters, the voltage drop reaches 3-4 volts - the valve seems to be activated, but the membrane does not reach the stop. This is especially critical in winter when the lubricant thickens.

Stabilizers help, but not always. In one of the projects for a greenhouse complex near Krasnodar, we installed switching power supplies - they provided clean 24V, but created interference with neighboring control equipment. I had to switch to transformer analogues, although they are heavier and more expensive.

I noticed an interesting detail: some installers confuse AC and DC when connecting - the valve works, but the coil heats up twice as hot. In the Shandong Lingyao documentation, this point is highlighted in bold, but not everyone gets around to reading the instructions.

Installation details for irrigation systems

Two-inch valves are often installed on main lines where pressure exceeds 6 bar. Here it is important not to skimp on shut-off valves - you definitely need a manual shut-off valve in front of the valve. Last year, at a facility in the Rostov region, this rule was ignored; the entire system had to be drained to replace one valve.

Installation orientation is a controversial issue. Most manufacturers allow installation in any position, but practice shows: with vertical installation with the solenoid facing up, the service life increases by 15-20%. Apparently, less small debris accumulates in the working cavity.

When tying with polypropylene, many people forget about thermal deformation - if the valve is rigidly fixed and the pipes “play”, after a season cracks will appear at the soldering points. We now always leave a compensation loop made of a metal hose.

Control system compatibility

The valves work perfectly with Shandong Lingyao controllers, but failures occur when integrated with third-party systems. For example, some programmable relays do not produce a pure sine wave, but a square wave - the valve hums, although it opens. The solution was found through intermediate relay modules.

Smart agricultural parks often use cascade control, where one controller serves up to 8 valves. It is important to take into account the starting current here - when all valves are turned on simultaneously, the voltage drop reaches 30%. We now configure sequential triggering with a 0.5 second delay.

Remote control via GSM modules requires additional protection - ports burn out in a thunderstorm in 30% of cases. We install lightning protection devices, although they are not included as standard. By the way, the website https://www.lyzhihuinongye.ru has technical notes on this issue, but you need to specifically look for them in the documentation section.

Maintainability and maintenance

Disassembling a 2-inch valve is not a difficult operation, but requires specific tools. Hex screws often stick, and a standard wrench breaks off the edges. We keep socket heads with an amplifier in stock - without them in the field you can find yourself in a difficult situation.

Cleaning the valve seat is a regular procedure. Sand and scale get clogged more often than you might expect. Interestingly, in systems with fertilizers, deposits form faster, but they are softer - flushing without disassembly is sufficient. But when using artesian water with a high iron content, a hard coating appears, which can only be removed mechanically.

It is better to order spare parts directly from the manufacturer. Experience has shown that 'universal' membranes and springs from third party suppliers do not always match the geometry exactly. At Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC, we send requests in sets - this is cheaper, even taking into account delivery from China.

Economic aspects of application

The cost of the valve is just the tip of the iceberg. When calculating the budget for irrigation automation, people often forget about protective boxes, stabilizers and installation work. As a result, the price of the system increases by 2-3 times relative to the cost of the main components.

The payback period for replacing manual dampers with solenoid valves is on average 2-3 seasons for farms with an area of ​​50 hectares or more. But this is subject to proper setup of watering cycles - if you simply duplicate the old schedule, water savings will be minimal.

The indirect effect is a reduction in labor costs. One operator can operate the system over 200-300 hectares, whereas manual operation required 3-4 people. But here it is important to take into account qualifications - to service the automation you need a specialist with electrical skills.

Prospects for technology development

Current trends are the transition to low-voltage DC valves with pulse control. They are more economical, but still more expensive and less repairable in the field. I think that in five years they will replace traditional AC models in most facilities.

An interesting direction is hybrid solutions, where a solenoid valve is combined with a flow meter. Such systems are already being tested in smart agricultural park projects, but there is no mass production yet. In Shandong Lingyao they talked about the development of such equipment, but did not give a time frame.

For small farms, simplified versions with manual override are relevant - when the automation may fail, and watering is urgently needed. In our conditions, this is an important insurance, especially during peak load periods.